First Halo: Reach map pack revealed

Halo: Reach's first map pack will be released on 30th November, Bungie's announced.

The Noble Map Pack includes three new maps: Tempest, Anchor 9 and Breakpoint. Pics are below.

New Achievements and a total of 250 Gamerscore are up for grabs. It'll cost 800 Microsoft Points (£6.85 / €9.60).

"Our DLC team has been hard at work these last few months, cloistered together in the heart of the studio preparing three new multiplayer maps for your Halo: Reach multiplayer pleasure," community man Eric Osborne wrote on Bungie.net.

"Though they're still putting the finishing touches on what we've now dubbed the Noble Map Pack as we speak, we've been itching like crazy to show off the trio of maps for quite some time now. Today, you get your first good look."

In Anchor 9 orbital dockyards provide rapid refuelling and repairs for a variety of UNSC vessels. "Within the confines of this low orbit dry-dock, UNSC craft undergo rapid repair and rearmament in support of the enduring war effort. But for the small squads of infantry who now fight over the mirrored interior hallways and open central hangar bay, this platform no longer provides any safe harbor whatsoever – whether the close quarters combat is occurring inside or out of its artificial gravitational field." It's for two to eight players in game variants including Free for All, Team Slayer and Team Objective.

Tempest, on the other hand, is an abandoned shoreline facility that "bends both sea and sky to an unnatural purpose, but the ground itself has quickly become another all too familiar battlefield. Though the two opposing symmetrical bases may never reveal their ancient purpose, both now offer makeshift shelter and access to strategic routes perfectly suited for small and large scale skirmishes alike".

Tempest supports eight to sixteen players and offers modes including Free for All, Team Slayer, Team Objective and Big Team Battle. It also provides players with a huge Forge palette, allowing them to create new custom map variants.

And finally, Breakpoint. "Atop this icy precipice, the Invasion continues. These modular archaeological labs were never intended to withstand such a large scale onslaught of Covenant military power, but the information being extracted here may prove vital to humanity's survival. In response to the imminent Covenant threat, UNSC ground and air assets have been deployed to bolster entrenched Spartan countermeasures. This site must yield salvation, or it will become a grave."

Breakpoint offers multiplayer for 8-16 players and supports the Invasion and Big Team Battle game variants.

Meanwhile, Bungie announced the start of its official Forgetacular Contest, which begins now.